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Amaryllis care
Hippeastrum · Amaryllidaceae
Also called Knight's star lily, Equestrian star, Barbados lily.
The large bulbs sold as amaryllis are hybrids of Hippeastrum, a genus from Central and South America and the Caribbean, not the South African genus Amaryllis. Each bulb sends up one or more hollow stalks topped with two to six trumpet-shaped flowers, usually 6 to 8 weeks after potting. With a summer of growth and a short dry rest, the same bulb flowers again the next year.
Light
Partial SunWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
EasyPets
Toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
30-60 cm
Growth
Fast
Temperature
16-24 °C
Not below 2 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
40% - 60%
Average room humidity
Soil pHUnconfirmed
5.5-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Through the year
After potting, water once and then wait about a week. Keep the compost slightly moist while it grows, water once or twice a week in flower, and stop watering completely during its 8 to 10 week rest.
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Spring
WeeklyKeep the leafy plant in a sunny window, water regularly and feed it; move it outside once frost is over if you like.
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Summer
WeeklyKeep it growing in good light with regular water and feed until the leaves start to fade.
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Autumn
RarelyStop watering and store the pot somewhere cool and dark for 8 to 10 weeks; remove the leaves once they are dry.
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Winter
WeeklyBring it back into light and warmth, water again when the bud shows and expect flowers within 4 to 8 weeks.
Feeding
Every 2-4 weeks in winter and spring and summer. Liquid houseplant fertilizer at the label rate. Hold off until the leaves are growing: feeding a bare, leafless bulb can damage its roots.
Care tips
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Pot it snugly, half out
Use a heavy pot only 2-5 cm wider than the bulb and leave the top third to half of the bulb above the compost.
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Turn the pot
The stalk bends toward the brightest window, so give the pot a half turn every few days to keep it upright. Support a tall, top-heavy stalk with a thin stake.
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Cool it in bloom
Once flowers open, a cooler room at about 16-18 °C and no direct sun make them last longer.
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Keep the leaves after flowering
Cut off the faded flower stalk but let the leaves grow on in sun all summer; they rebuild the bulb for next year.
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Give it a dry rest
In late summer or autumn stop watering and keep the pot cool and dark for 8 to 10 weeks, then bring it back to the light.
Common problems
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Red blotch
What you seeRed spots and streaks on the bulb, flower stalk and young leaves; stalks may bend or snap.
What to doBuy firm bulbs with no red marks on the inner scales, pot with the neck above the compost and use fresh, sterile potting mix.
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Bulb rot
What you seeThe bulb feels soft or smells bad and growth stalls.
What to doWater less and never leave the pot in a full saucer; throw out a rotten bulb along with its compost.
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Mealybugs
What you seeWhite, cottony clumps between the leaves and around the neck of the bulb.
What to doRemove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and check the plant every week.
Pets
Is amaryllis safe for cats and dogs?
Toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists Hippeastrum species as toxic to cats and dogs. They contain lycorine and other alkaloids, which cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhea; large amounts can cause tremors, low blood pressure and heart rhythm problems. The bulb is the most poisonous part.
Good to know
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The name Hippeastrum comes from Greek words for horse and rider.
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Bulbs are sold by their circumference in centimetres, and bigger bulbs give more flower stalks.
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Most modern hybrids were bred from only about six of the genus's roughly 90 wild species.
